VEDA has become 2019’s it place for fresh, flavour-led, vegan and vegetarian dishes – a Foodie Forks 2019 winner for Best Green Eats. The restaurant is attached to the new Ovolo Central hotel on Arbuthnot Road; it can be accessed through the hotel lobby or via the main entrance located on the steps opposite The Centrium.
The all-day menu has recently been revamped, harmonising authentic Eastern and Western influences. With a new food menu comes a fresh collection of cocktails, and the plant-based haven showcases an array of cool, health-forward drinks.
The Old School cocktail section features healthy twists on classic drinks, while the New School section includes in-house creations that are more creative and playful. Take the Aphrodisiac Martini ($128) from the New School collection, for example, which is bursting with citrus yet remains well-balanced and aromatic with vanilla.
We can’t forget the Pre-School cocktails either, which are sans booze and just as delicious. The Lady in Red ($98) was our go-to mocktail, made with in-house strawberry syrup and aloe vera juice, with an aftertaste a similar to marzipan.
A a huge fan of snacking while drinking, we ordered the quinoa arancini ($88). Each bite was crunchy, tender, cheesy and full of turmeric, while the Possible Burger ($128) was actually mini sliders filled with melt-in-the-mouth patties made of spinach, potato and corn, each topped with fresh avocado and tomato, all in a warm brioche bun. The sriracha mayo went great with the burgers, providing a spicy kick.
For keeping the calories at bay, we recommend ordering a Kombucha Spritz ($128), which is a twist on an Aperol spritz but filled with your daily intake of probiotics. The Celeryta ($138) has a fresh flavour and is a spin on the classic margarita. This cocktail mixes Ocho tequila and Grand Marnier with celery juice, basil and lime, sweetened with a touch of agave nectar.
For snacks that are more filling, we recommend the Kathmandu momos ($110), creamy spinach- and ricotta- filled dumplings elevated by a spicy smoked tomato and chilli achar, and the zingy artichoke hummus with corn relish ($88), which elevates traditional hummus by blending artichoke hearts into the chickpea mixture. These were perfect accompaniments to our last two cocktails of the evening.
Verdict
Truthfully, we love having drinks at the end of a long day, and VEDA’s kaleidoscope of health-forward cocktails are guilt free. We can’t judge how much healthier these drinks are, even if antioxidant ingredients are used along with the alcohol, but it feels good knowing that the ingredients are fresh and made in-house, utilising alternative sweeteners to the usual white sugar.
Ovolo Central, 2 Arbuthnot Road, Central, 3755 3067, book online
This write-up is based on a complimentary media tasting provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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